my local scene suxs big ass

[quote="chairman_hall"]It's okay for you Chicago lot you have got a good coherent scene with a long prestigious history. Just wanting to know how everyone else feels about their local scene.

We have a very poor history musically in the NE of England - Status Quo, Sting, Lindisfarne, Chris Rea - all shite. Nowadays the local scene is stifled by bands jumping on the angular punk bandwagon after maximo Park and Futureheads - it stinks.[/quote]



I lived in Newcastle for 5 years (93-98) and the best I can say about the music scene there is that they had a few good record stores that sold a lot of stuff put out by Chicago labels. It was always very rare that a good band would even play there while on tour. My brother went back there a year or two ago and said that some of the old venues are not even there any more (but I haven't been back since 2001 to see if this is true). Jandek did play one of his first shows in Gateshead fairly recently, I was surprised by that, but bands who are actually from the NE? Zoviet France, McKenzie from the Hafler Trio and that is about it...I live in Chicago now...

Nice Lindisfarne reference. Wasn't that the band that played the song that Paul Gascgoine the soccer player sang? I am still waiting for the Chicago version of that, Shellac providing the music with Ditka on vocals. This has to happen.

St. Louis' local music community is kind of notorious for being completely non-cohesive. Also, bands here have a knack for being unapologetic rip-offs of artists past and present. I'll be heading to Chicago in a few weeks for an internship at Electrical, and am looking quite forward to enjoying the local music there. If anyone has any good advice (who to see, where to see them, when to see them) I would totally appreciate it.

I keep hearing about a "scene" in Spokane. When I show up all I see are chalk outlines and yellow tape. It's just incredibly sad, the state of music in the eastern part of Washington.

rzs wrote:I lived in Newcastle for 5 years (93-98) and the best I can say about the
music scene there is that they had a few good record stores that sold a lot
of stuff put out by Chicago labels. It was always very rare that a good
band would even play there while on tour.

You moved there just too late. Up to 93 there were loads of great shows
at the Riverside, Husker Du, NoMeansNo, Fugazi, Nirvana w/ Tad, as just
a few examples. It used to be a collective but then changed and went
down the pan. The Mayfair used to put on some good nights too (in
between all the cack metal) but that too has closed now. All it's left
with is the Carling Academy which apart from the rare good show
put's on second rate music industry fare of the type the likes of
Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman wet their nickers over. Shame as I used
to enjoy a good band at least once a week. There are still some good
gigs (Lightning Bolt a week tuesday) but not with the same regularity
of yesteryear. When I were a lad blah blah etc.....

b

Ivan Dobsky wrote:

rzs wrote:I lived in Newcastle for 5 years (93-98) and the best I can say about the
music scene there is that they had a few good record stores that sold a lot
of stuff put out by Chicago labels. It was always very rare that a good
band would even play there while on tour.

You moved there just too late. Up to 93 there were loads of great shows
at the Riverside, Husker Du, NoMeansNo, Fugazi, Nirvana w/ Tad, as just
a few examples. It used to be a collective but then changed and went
down the pan. The Mayfair used to put on some good nights too (in
between all the cack metal) but that too has closed now. All it's left
with is the Carling Academy which apart from the rare good show
put's on second rate music industry fare of the type the likes of
Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman wet their nickers over. Shame as I used
to enjoy a good band at least once a week. There are still some good
gigs (Lightning Bolt a week tuesday) but not with the same regularity
of yesteryear. When I were a lad blah blah etc.....

b

Ah, remember the one brief moment when The Middlesbrough Arena opened and was in cahoots with the Newcastle Riverside... Swans... Shudder to Think... lots of other really good people I can't think of right now... in Middlesbrough! So nice, so nice. How much of an insult is it that if bands from out of town play now, they play at the Crown's NME sponsored 'NME night'. Get out of my town you stinking fuck of a music press. Get out of my town you fucking shit bands sucking on dick of said stinking fuck of a music press.

Grrr.

Those were the days.

I remember African Headcharge playing about that time.

I can't remember the last time I went to a gig in Boro.

b

Ivan Dobsky wrote:Edith Bowman

Please never mention this person again.

Adam CR wrote:

Ivan Dobsky wrote:Edith Bowman

Please never mention this person again.

Sorry about that.

Just making a point.

Wont do it again.

b

Chromodynamic wrote:I keep hearing about a "scene" in Spokane. When I show up all I see are chalk outlines and yellow tape. It's just incredibly sad, the state of music in the eastern part of Washington.

I lived around Spokane until I was 18, and I never knew of any local bands. We've played there a few times, and the local bands we have played with have been fairly mediocre.

I've noticed more and more touring bands playing Spokane, but I'd be hard pressed to see a local scene develop when most folks any ambition either head to Seattle or Portland.

Salut Chromodynamic, for sticking it out in the largest little town around!